Criminal justice client rehabs are available as a considerably better option than time in jail or heavy fines for many who have been convicted of any sort of alcohol or drug related crime. As an example, a person who has been found guilty of driving while impaired of alcohol or drugs may be eligible for rehab services for their problem instead of serving time in jail. The judge could even order the individual receive rehabilitation, either alone or as well as other consequences. First time offenders in particular tend to be given the ability to choose a criminal justice client rehab as an alternative to other sentencing, and it is highly recommended they make the most of it if it's an option. The idea behind criminal justice client rehabs is it is far more efficient and effective to invest time and energy into rehabilitation than punishment. Much research has been completed to find out how effective this strategy is on recidivism rates, i.e. if the individual returns or not to criminal justice system following treatment. The signs and indicators seem to be quite positive, and criminal justice clients that experience rehabilitation have a better possibility of remaining out of the judicial system after treatment.